Billy Bishop

Canadian1894-1956In 1916, when Bishop qualified to be a fighter pilot, the life expectancy of a newly trained pilot was just 11 days. His was an eventful career. He survived a crash-landing in no-mans land (barely 300 yards from the German trenches), an encounter alone against five German fighters, as well as an engagement with The Red Baron, the pilot with the most victories of any pilot in WWI. Bishop received the Distinguished Service Order for shooting down two enemies, while coming under fire from four others. Described by the German’s as Hell’s Handmaiden, Bishop had an all-or-nothing approach that made him the highest scoring Ace in the British Empire. He’s credited with 72 victories.